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ahh ok some people at my last job got raises to $2.35 after a year... haha what a raise!
$2.13, actually.
Asking politely for items, and making use of "please" and "thank you", goes a long way too.
Also, I wholeheartedly agree with whoever said 15% is for high school dates. If you can't tip at least 20% for good service or at a place you regularly visit you should either hit a drive-thru or cook at home.
ahh ok some people at my last job got raises to $2.35 after a year... haha what a raise!
You know, you're absloutely right there. You'd be suprised how much please "please" and "thank you" mean to a person who does this everyday. I've had people who dont eat out much (which is fine because growing up my parents never took us out to a restaurant so they had no idea how to tip either) and they may leave a buck and change, but it really doesnt matter when they are so nice.
Restaurants: 15%-20% depending on the service; I'm generally a good tipper because I'm so thankful I never had to do that kind of work...but I think you are doing a dis-service to the waiter and the restaurant if you leave a good tip for lousy service...you take care of me, I'll take care of you; you screw me, no tip (always leave a quarter for exceptionally poor service...it's a code for waiters...if you don't leave anything, they can always convince themselves you just forgot)
Barbers: I tip my hairdresser $5 for a haircut (that's the only thing I do at a salon, and I've been going to the same salon/hairdresser for over 20 years) that costs $30; at my appointment closest to Christmas, I give him $10.
Bellboys: Don't generally use them. My suitcase has wheels and I only carry one, so I do it myself. The only time I will allow anyone to carry my bag to the room is if the room is not ready when I check in and I leave it with a baggage check desk. In that case, if a bellman brings the bag, I tip $2 per bag. I don't generally use a skycap at the airport, either. If I do, I tip $2 per bag. I tip rental car or hotel shuttle drivers $2 per bag if they get my bag in and out (some do, some don't).
Strippers: Last time I went to a male revue, it was in Vegas. I wasn't close enough to tip anyone. The only other time I have been to a male strip club was when LaBare was on Fredericksburg Rd. There were 5 of us at our table and we tipped $1 each when a dancer came to our table.
Valets: Don't use 'em.
Car wash: I tip $3 at a full service carwash (for which I have an annual pass so the individual washes cost me nothing at the time) for vacuuming, drying my Ford Ranger, washing the windows inside, dusting the dash, and dressing the tires. If the truck is really buggy or dirty for some reason, I will tip $4. If, and this is rare any more, they back the truck off the edge of the berm and drain the bed of the pickup, they get $5. I will not ask them to do that, but I appreciate it when they do because it keeps my chrome bumper from having water streaks.
And, do you always have to tip for every single service?
IMO, yes, if you want good service. Good service is just like everything else in life...you get what you pay for. If you don't get good service, let them know through the tip.
restaurants-20% of bill, but always at least 2 bucks.
barbers $5
bellboys $5
strippers never been with one.
vallets $2-$3
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Hey guys, im new here in the USA and i just want to know how much do you usually tip for:
restaurants - if the food isn't good I'll just give them a pointer or two on how to make it better.
barbers - same with a haircut, sometimes they fade it too high, and i'll just let them know afterwards.
bellboys - always lift with your knees
strippers - never put your knees into the groin.
vallets - go real slow
...and do you always have to tip for every service?
You shouldn't blame the quality of the food on the waiter; they have nothing to do with that, no control. The only time anything to do with the food should be blamed on the waiter is if your food is cold when you get it (that probably means he/she left it sitting). Tips to waiters should be based on the service they provide only. If you have a problem with the food, you should see the manager or ask to speak with the cook or chef. You would be surprised how many times this will get you a free meal or coupons for next time. But, it's NOT the waiter's fault. And, only complain if there is truly something wrong with the food (not just to get freebies).
And I do realize you were trying to be funny. My comments were for the thread starter.
Last edited by pache100; 06-12-2006 at 12:32 PM.
The rule of thumb is that if you've done what they're doing (at some point in your life) you'll know it's not an easy job, you get paid squat, you'll respect them more and you'll tip well. With that said, if you get so-so service, you're more apt to get pi$$ed and leave a crappy tip. It comes with the territory.
Personally, I'm not hard to satisfy...I love tipping big, but if you shaft me I'm not only liable to skip the tip, but speak to a manager if I feel it's bad enough. Maybe it's just me...
I always tip 20% at restaurants, unless they're horribly bad then I leave a quater.
Barber, well I always tip my guy $3, thats because he always takes his time, he charges $12 for the haircut so thats 25%.
I don't do vallets (1-2 if its free to service), bellboys, strippers or taxis.
It ain't like Mickey D's were you go get the food yourself......you are requesting someone to bring it to you when you go to a sit-down restaurant.Nobody's forcing them to work there.
Why should I be obligated to help them survive? I think $5-10 for my table is more than enough. If they have a "whole section they have to take care of" like you say...than multiply that $5-10 by the number of tables and I think they make a reasonable amoutn per night.
I do just as much as they do, I have "cleaning duties", I make sure s running right...I don't get tipped. But I don't expect other people to help me survive either.
If it's too much trouble for them, tell them to go apply at West Telemarketing.
If they went to work at West they would be calling you at the wrong time and you would still have a problem with that and then you'd tell them to work somewhere else and so on.
resturaunts: 15-20%...flucuates depending on level of service, i have left as little as 2 pennies and as much as 30% or so. I hate having to tip at a buffet though, that pisses me off, they get a buck. Which is still nice.
barber: 2 bucks on an 8 buck cut.
valets: i dont use that .
bellboys: rarely use them but a buck a bag, same for skycabs at the airport.
taxis: dont really use em, would tip depending on quality of the ride.
Overall, I think we have gotten to where we are expected to tip for everything though, at one time service was expected in the product you paid for, now thats not the case. I'm waiting for the day when you are going to be expected to tip the bank teller for giving you your money. Tipping at a car wash annoys me, I dont think those s make less than min wage and in reality the service of getting your damn car washed, cleaned, dried etc, should be included in teh price of said car wash. But thats just me. But what are you gonna do? I wanna get tipped when I provide service to people....oh well.
I'm not that hard to satisfy, either. I'll put up with a lot when it comes to poor service; the food has to be top notch or I will send it back, but that is no reflection on the waiter. I am more likely to speak to a manager if I get super great service that if I get bad service (it has to be REALLY bad for me to seek out a manager). You'd be surprised how often that will get you coupons for next time, too. I will also go to chain restaurants' websites and send in evaluations or email them when I get exceptionally good service. And, that's in addition to leaving a super tip.
I don't usually tip at a buffet. However, we (Mom, sis, and I) eat frequently at the Golden Corral in Universal City. There is a waitress there that takes especially good care of us when we go there. She is right on top of things; she brings us plenty of plates and checks with us several times during our meal to make sure we don't need anything. We are big iced tea drinkers, and we usually go on Saturday for lunch after doing yardwork all morning, so we are really thirsty; she will bring us a pitcher of unsweetened tea and leave it on our table just for us. We really appreciate that, it's convenient for us and it saves her some steps. We usually tip her 1 or 2 dollars apiece. That's a nice tip for a buffet restaurant waitress. Most people don't tip them at all.
Last edited by pache100; 06-13-2006 at 08:26 AM.
They still take away the used plates and refill your drinks. I always leave a dollar or two. Well, I'll leave a couple of dollars if there aren't used plates all over the table and I had to beg for a drink refill.
I disagree with that. That's another job I'm soooo thankful I never had to resort to doing. What a thankless job! I can't believe some of the stuff those guys and gals have to put up with out of rude, picky customers. And the HEAT! All kinds of bad weather. I really appreciate my annual carwash pass (it's what my Mom gives us for Christmas every year, carrying on the tradition that my Dad started) so that I don't have to wash my truck myself and I can go anytime and as often as I want. If they do an above average job (and most of the ones at my carwash do), I sure as heck don't mind tipping them a few bucks.
I have a feeling if I ever took my car to be *professionally* cleaned, I'd have to leave a tip greater than the value of my car.
My car has been through 2 toddlers ... and it shows.
That's the beauty of having a pass; you get discounts on all services, including detailing. My old Mazda truck was in pretty bad shape inside when I got my first pass as a Christmas gift. I took that sucker in there and got a complete (all day) inside/outside detail job done and got it waxed. Then, I just use the pass to get it washed each week (or more often if I want) and all it costs me on the spot is the tip. Cool! I love my carwash pass!I have a feeling if I ever took my car to be *professionally* cleaned, I'd have to leave a tip greater than the value of my car.
My car has been through 2 toddlers ... and it shows.
People I like to tip...Leave a card with cash at Christmas...
1-The garbage men... (I have done this for years & if I leave my containers in the back yard, they brave through my dogs & empty them...
2-My gardeners...(100 degree heat mowing lawns, trimming tress, pulling weeds, these guys work hard)...I leave a refrigerator in the garage where they can get Gatorade, ice water or beer...Plus I tip them at Christmas...
3-The mail carrier... (I never have to go to the post office to look for lost mail or packages)...
I don’t like to feel that I have to tip for terrible service....
Restaurants - 20% if the service is good...
I used to work for West. Go figure, right.
I just had to leave a $35 tip at the hair dressers...but that was 25%, rounded up. I don't around with people who mess with scissors around my head if I ever plan to go back.
damn.... i going BACK to the beauty school and graduate this time
damn.... i going BACK to the beauty school and graduate this time
And if you didn't already have a SO, I'd tell you that there are some seriously good looking men who work at that salon.
When I have the money, I usually tip around 25%. But, it depends on the event. When we went to prom a couple years ago I tipped 45 dollars on a 40-50 dollar order(bad memory) because it was a good night, and I wasnt sure how my cheap friends would tip. Also, at applebees I have gotten to know some of the servers, and they give me free drinks and mashed potatoes, and I like the apps which are 1/2 price so the ticket is small. Usually me and my fiancee only have a 9-10 dollar tab there, so I top about 7-10 dollars to even things out.
And if you didn't already have a SO, I'd tell you that there are some seriously good looking men who work at that salon.
you should see the cute male students out at UTHSCSA dental school - they have this oral thing going on
When my friend worked at Chili's, she would comp us the chips and salsa and sometimes our iced tea. We paid the same amount we would have if she'd charged us for those items, so she got the difference in tips. There are several places we go that we have favorite waiters who won't charge us for drinks and we give them that amount in their tip.
Also, we have gotten in the habit of ordering from the kids' menu when the restaurant allows it (some have age restrictions). We do this at Chili's and at Fuddruckers. You get pretty much the same thing (smaller portions of fries, which is a good thing) as you get on the adult orders, but it's like half the cost. Sure makes your bill a lot less, you don't sit there and try to stuff all that food down, and you don't have much leftovers. At a lot of places we go, the child's menu has quite a variety, is inexpensive, and the portions are plenty for us three old ladies. When your bill is not so high (and the waiter doesn't give you a hard time about ordering from the kids' menu), it's easier to leave a generous tip!
Good tip.
I've done that, and another thing we do alot is split a plate. Actually we split a plate about 70% of the time. Especially at Denny's or IHOP breakfasts.
If we are feeling really hungry we will get an appetizer and then split a plate.
Saves $$ and stops you from wasting food.
btw- 25 posts to go.
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